Both a FT and HS2 on the blink at the same time

[swampy76]

G'day all.....

Both of my machines have decided they don't like Wednesdays. Apologies if these are common issues that have been covered before, but my electrical background is average at best:

FT - outhole ball trough no longer wants to feed balls across to be ready for the shooter lane. The switch that recognises the ball in the outhole seems to be working properly (i.e. tests good). At the same time the VUK at the casters club is continually firing (as if it's conducting some sort of ball search).

HS2 - switch that feeds the ball to the shooter lane is overzealous. The ball bounces straight out of the shooter lane and then back towards the trough where it sits on the edge of it and I have to tilt the machine to fix it. Very frustrating!!

Thanks for any advice team.

Cheers.

[Strangeways]

FT - sounds like a switch matrix problem. The VUK firing may suggest the switch is closed on the VUK (thinks there is a ball present). Check all the trough switches. On power up - does the display mention there is a ball missing ?

HS2 - Is the game level ? you may need to check the action with the apron off - Did it just "start" to do this ?

[swampy76]

FT - sounds like a switch matrix problem. The VUK firing may suggest the switch is closed on the VUK (thinks there is a ball present). Check all the trough switches. On power up - does the display mention there is a ball missing ?

HS2 - Is the game level ? you may need to check the action with the apron off - Did it just "start" to do this ?

Thanks for the advice mate.

FT - Will check all switches. Yes, I'm getting a 'pinball missing' message, and you cannot start a game.

HS2 - Game is level. Yes, it has developed this problem all of a sudden. Will have to investigate further.

Thanks again.

[MrMaloo]

Hi swampy . Mate seeing as though you've recently had the whole playfield out of the FT while you re-decalled it , it could be a loose wire on the coil that fires the ball across to the main trough . Sometimes when moving things around the wires can work free and break off at the solder joints on the coil.

The VUK problem sounds like something similar in that something may have moved when you had the pf out . Is there a switch that activates when the ball is there or is it opto's . If it's a switch then check that it's not closed all the time (ie. the game will think there is a ball sitting there) . If it's opto's then give them a clean with some metho or isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud . Also check both for loose / broken wires .

You may have already checked these but thought I'd throw them in just in case .

[ktm450]

My HS2 used to do the same, you need to do some tweaking of the metal guide under the apron to put a little spin on the ball altering the angle slightly that is pops out.  Check for fatigued metal on that guide as well, I needed to weld up a small crack in mine.

[swampy76]

Righto. We've had a win with the HS2. A small 'pliers adjustment' of the metal kicker that throws the ball to the shooter lane has solved the problem. Now she works perfectly (and I followed it up with a 'test game' of 283M which is pretty good for me......)

Now to get to the bottom of the FT issues....

[Extra Ball]

captive ball in place on FT?

[swampy76]

FT FIXED!!!!! (Thanks Jules)

The VUK at the casters club has had a new switch put in it (a few weeks back, before we did the outside). Switch needed some adjustment, and the little 'dowl pin' that slots in there was missing. (anyone know if these can be bought?) Anyways, the switch was stuck on, and blew the fuse at F104 which drives half of the solenoids.

So new fuse in, VUK switch adjusted, and presto.......good to go.   

Thanks to all for their advice. Time to pack the machines as I'm moving to Canberra!! Removalist truck here tomorrow........

Cheers all.